Firmware Error

tlf30

Hello,
I am currently trying to use a IEEE 802.11b wireless card for my WAN interface, and am receiving the following error:


bwi_v3_ucode could not load firmware image, error 17 pfsense
bwi0: request firmware bwi_v3_ucode failed
bwi0: bwi_init_statechq: error 12 on MAC init

tlf30

I understand that I need to install the bwi-firmware-kmod but I am at a loss on how to do so.

stephenw10

The bwi_v3_ucode.ko module is already included in /boot/modules. You can load it manually:

kldload bwi_v3_ucode

or have it loaded at boot time by adding the following to /boot/loader.conf.local (create the file if it doesn't exist)

bwi_v3_ucode_load="yes"

Steve

tlf30

Sorry to take so long, I get the message:

kldload: can't load bwi_v3_ucode: File exists

tlf30

For the config change for the boot, I get the original error message every time I boot now.

stephenw10

Is that the only error you are seeing? There seems to be a known problem with loading some firmware in which the space provided to load the firmware is no longer large enough. This results in errors messages like:

@http://forum.pfsense.org/index.php/topic:

firmware_register: cannot register image bwi_v3_pcm4, firmware table full!
module_register_init: MOD_LOAD (bwi_v3_ucode_fw, 0xc3f7ec80, 0) error 6
bwi_v3_ucode: firmware image loaded, but did not register
bwi0: request firmware bwi_v3_ucode failed
bwi0: bwi_init_statechg: error 12 on MAC init
bwi_v3_ucode: could not load firmware image, error 17
bwi0: request firmware bwi_v3_ucode failed
bwi0: bwi_init_statechg: error 12 on MAC init

You'll notice this contains the exact error message you're seeing. Not sure what error 17 indicates though. :-\ More Googling required.

Also do you have the exact model number of the card you are using? Perhaps more importantly the chipset number?

Steve

tlf30

I am not getting the rest of the errors, only the:

bwi_v3_ucode could not load firmware image, error 17 pfsense
bwi0: request firmware bwi_v3_ucode failed
bwi0: bwi_init_statechq: error 12 on MAC init

Dell Wireless 1390 WLAN (802.11b/g 54Mbps) Mini Card (Broadcom) for the laptop (don't ask), and on our "real" box that is having the same problem I can find out.

We have the exact same errors on both.

tlf30

For the main box's chip set,
It's entitled "Instant Wireless(TM) Wireless PCI Card".
It is model # WMP11, serial # BB7273312917, FCC ID PKW-WMP11-V27, IC 3839A-WMP11

http://support.linksys.com/en-us/support/adapters/WMP11

Thank you for your help,
I will be back in internet range in about three weeks.

stephenw10

Since those two devices are fairly similar it's perhaps not surprising you're seeing the same error on both:
http://wikidevi.com/wiki/Linksys_WMP11_v2.7
http://wikidevi.com/wiki/Dell_Wireless_1390_WLAN_Mini-Card

Still not sure what it means or what you can do about it. :-\

Have you tried a 2.1 snapshot?

Steve

tlf30

OK, I'm back.

I just put the Snapshot on the box and still no change… Same error message. :(

tlf30

I actually just crashed the whole system when I tried to set the IP to the interface. It was a very exciting, never ending output on the screen until it rebooted!

tlf30

I also receive the following text during startup:

 bwi0: [ITHREAD]
bwi0: BBP: id 0x4301, rev 0x2, pkg 0
bwi0: MAC: rev 2
bwi0: PHY: type 1, rev 4, ver 0
bwi0: RF: manu ox17f, type 0x2053, rev 2
bwi0: invalid antenna gain in sprom
bwi0: WARNING: using obsoleted if_watchdog interface

I would really like to know how to fix this.
But, it's quite enjoyable to watch random numbers fly across the screen!

stephenw10

At least it's entertaining you. ;D
I have no idea what you can do to stop it though. If it were me I'd start looking through the FreeBSD forums.

Steve

tlf30

Well, OK…
I checked the startup messages again, and it told me that pfSense couldn't load the firmware image because the firmware table was full, or something along that line.
But it isn't, I just installed three more Ethernet cards in it today... ???

stephenw10

Most Ethernet cards don't require firmware to loaded at each boot. The firmware table referred to in the error is part of some framework for wifi NICs.

Steve